Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship

Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship As the nation’s first freestanding school of entrepreneurship, we teach students to think and act We don’t just teach entrepreneurship.

The Close School of Entrepreneurship is the first freestanding school of entrepreneurship in the nation to offer degrees in entrepreneurship. Our interdisciplinary programs and curricula, which serve students of all academic disciplines and career ambitions, represent a bold new approach to entrepreneurship education. We teach students to think and act like entrepreneurs. In addition, the Close Sc

hool is home to Drexel's Baiada Institute for Entrepreneurship. The Institute bridges education and entrepreneurship by linking research, coursework, experiential learning, and entrepreneurial thinking with practical guidance for budding entrepreneurs. The Institute's mission - underscored by a deep interdisciplinary nature - to develop entrepreneurial leaders and foster the creation of successful technology ventures within the Drexel community distinguishes it as one of the nation's leading entrepreneurship programs. The Institute focuses on Entrepreneurship in Action, offering Mentoring Programs, Business Incubation, Student Clubs, and unique opportunities that advance entrepreneurs, such as Seminars in Entrepreneurial Excellence. Students from every academic discipline are encouraged to participate through interactive workshops, entrepreneurial courses, conferences and competitions. Visit us at http://drexel.edu/close/

09/01/2026

Big ideas. Bolder pitches 🎤

That’s a wrap on the Fashion + Entrepreneurship Summer Camp! These talented campers spent the week building fashion concepts from scratch, crafting mood boards, defining target audiences, and pitching their original brand ideas to a panel of judges. Watch how far they've come!

Drop a 👏 in the comments to congratulate these bold future fashion founders! 👇

When Biomedical Engineering student Ireoluwa Otegbade and CTO Izzy Passero set out to redefine textured hair care, they ...
08/28/2026

When Biomedical Engineering student Ireoluwa Otegbade and CTO Izzy Passero set out to redefine textured hair care, they didn't just build a product - they engineered simplicity into multi-generational hair routines.

Guided by Close School Associate Teaching Professor Scott Quitel, the team behind TOZ Hair Care turned a family remedy into a nationally recognized venture. That dedicated mentorship and strategic pitch preparation paid off on the national stage: TOZ Hair Care advanced to the Top 25 Finalists at e-Fest® 2026 and took home First Place for the Brand Builder Award ($5,000)! 🏆

"Biomedical engineering taught me how systems work and how to build them. Being involved with entrepreneurship and faculty mentors has taught me impact - how to turn those technical systems into a reality that is actually transferable to real people." - Ireoluwa Otegbade

At the Close School, our faculty don't just teach business - they serve as active partners, advisors, and advocates for our student founders.

Read the full feature on TOZ Hair Care's national win on our blog ⤵️

https://startersreview.com/how-drexels-toz-hair-care-won-big-at-e-fest-2026/

LeBow College of Business - Drexel University Drexel University

Drexel biomedical engineering student Ireoluwa Otegbade turned a family hair care solution into TOZ Hair Care, a nationally recognized venture simplifying textured hair routines. With support from the Close School, TOZ advanced to the Top 25 at e-Fest® 2026 and won First Place in the Brand Builder ...

How do you turn a pandemic passion project into a media platform that partners with iconic Philadelphia brands like Wawa...
08/27/2026

How do you turn a pandemic passion project into a media platform that partners with iconic Philadelphia brands like Wawa and the Phillies?

You stop guessing and start executing.

Doug Ulrich (MS ’25) didn't join the MS in Entrepreneurship and Innovation program to write academic papers on business strategy. He joined to build his digital agency, Chase U, in real time.

From stress-testing business models in the classroom to applying agile frameworks that drove a 10% engagement spike in his corporate role, Doug treats the Close School as an active testing ground.

Read his approach to building a media platform, navigating corporate ambiguity and managing the business strategy behind the content.

Full Q&A:

An insider’s look into the graduate experience at the Close School with chief content officer and dual Close School and LeBow alumnus, Doug Ulrich.

We’re thrilled to have hosted the LeBow Summer Investment Certificate right here at the Close School this summer!Led by ...
08/21/2026

We’re thrilled to have hosted the LeBow Summer Investment Certificate right here at the Close School this summer!

Led by 25-year finance veteran Robert Morier and guided by Drexel CIO Catherine Ulozas, this intensive 10-week program filled up almost instantly - bringing together driven undergraduate and graduate students, career changers and professionals from across the university and beyond.

Through this cross-disciplinary partnership, students are moving past lectures to gain real-world experience in:

🔍 Manager Research & Due Diligence: Evaluating strategies, teams and risk frameworks.

📊 Portfolio Construction: Navigating public and private asset allocations.

🎤 Investment Committee Pitching: Delivering and defending real investment theses to practitioners.

Programs like this demonstrate the power of Drexel. Whether you're building a venture from scratch in the Baiada Institute or mastering institutional capital allocation at 3230 Market, our doors are open to the builders, investors and leaders shaping the future.

LeBow College of Business - Drexel University Drexel University

08/14/2026

Doug Ulrich (MS ’25) wasn't sure which path to take for grad school until one specific course title caught his eye:

Pitch It! ⚡️

Building his media platform, Chase U, meant Doug needed real, hands-on practice - not just textbook theory. He wanted a program where he could refine his ideas, practice pitching and build a business model that actually works in the real world.

Watch Doug explain why he chose the Close School’s MS in Entrepreneurship and Innovation over a traditional MBA.

Read his full interview: https://www.lebow.drexel.edu/academics/graduate/life-lebow/student-stories/doug-ulrich

Drexel University LeBow College of Business - Drexel University

08/14/2026

Doug Ulrich (MS ’25) wasn’t sure which path to take for grad school until one specific course title caught his eye:

Pitch It! ⚡️

Building his media platform, Chase U, meant Doug needed real, hands-on practice - not just textbook theory. He wanted a program where he could refine his ideas, practice pitching and build a business model that actually works in the real world.

Watch Doug explain why he chose the Close School’s MS in Entrepreneurship and Innovation over a traditional MBA.

Tap the link in our bio to read his full interview!

Drexel University Drexel's LeBow College ChaseU

ExperienceDrexel PhillyCreators DrexelDragons Philly

They showed up with an idea. They left thinking like fashion entrepreneurs. ✂️🧵Looking back at an incredible week at Dre...
08/11/2026

They showed up with an idea. They left thinking like fashion entrepreneurs. ✂️🧵

Looking back at an incredible week at Drexel’s Fashion + Entrepreneurship Summer Camp! Over five fast-paced days, these talented high schoolers went behind the scenes of the fashion industry to discover what it actually takes to build, brand and launch a real venture.

From exploring the Baiada Institute incubator to diving into sustainable design using Westphal’s VR wall, every single day was packed with real-world ex*****on. The students spent the week conducting market research, exploring revenue models and taking field trips to local Philadelphia staples like Reworn Shop and independent beauty brand The Indie Shelf.

With hands-on mentorship from Close School and Westphal students, they moved from target audience research and mood boards straight into pitch prep - culminating in a high-stakes Pitch Showcase in front of guest judges, complete with award celebrations and a networking reception.

These students brought incredible creativity, drive and vision to campus. We cannot wait to see what they build next! 🐉

LeBow College of Business - Drexel University Drexel Westphal College of Media Arts & Design Drexel University

How do you turn a pandemic passion project into a media platform that partners with iconic Philadelphia brands like Wawa...
08/07/2026

How do you turn a pandemic passion project into a media platform that partners with iconic Philadelphia brands like Wawa and the Phillies?

You stop guessing and start executing.

Doug Ulrich (MS ’25) didn't join the MS in Entrepreneurship and Innovation program to write academic papers on business strategy. He joined to build his digital agency, Chase U, in real time.

From stress-testing business models in the classroom to applying agile frameworks that drove a 10% engagement spike in his corporate role, Doug treats the Close School as an active testing ground.

Read his approach to building a media platform, navigating corporate ambiguity and managing the business strategy behind the content.

Full article: https://www.lebow.drexel.edu/academics/graduate/life-lebow/student-stories/doug-ulrich

Drexel University LeBow College of Business - Drexel University _chase_u

Doug Chase is now leveraging skills and connections from his MS in Entrepreneurship and Innovation studies to grow engagement for his digital marketing agency.

POV: You didn’t just choose a major. You chose a community 🐉It’s not about sitting in massive lecture halls memorizing t...
08/04/2026

POV: You didn’t just choose a major. You chose a community 🐉

It’s not about sitting in massive lecture halls memorizing terms for a midterm. It’s the raw, unedited reality of building something from scratch.

Being part of this community means:

☕ Caffeine-fueled whiteboard sessions where a chaotic sketch turns into a real business model.
🗣️ Real, unfiltered feedback from professors who have actually built companies and been in the trenches themselves.
🤝 Looking around the room and realizing the person sitting next to you isn’t just a classmate, they’re your future co-founder, investor, or CMO.
🏆 The absolute rush of stepping off a pitch stage after giving it your all and winning funding for your ideas, or having to pivot completely.

The Close School experience is gritty, fast-paced, and collaborative. We don't wait for graduation to start our experience.

This is your launchpad. Welcome home, Dragon!

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